That's awesome and a little chummy. Got any ideas using custard?

THAT IS AWESOME

That is absolutely DISGUSTING!! And what if your youth have a problem touching other people? They'd either feel forced to do it, or they'd feel left out. And I don't see how this really builds "Team Work." It's passing gross stuff down a line. It doesn't bring the youth together or get them to know each other. That is just as bad as drinking soda through someone else's sock!!

This is a terrible idea! Why not try opening the Bible with kids? Just an idea.

I agree with the fact that this is terrible! Games should have a point to them and should be able to be related back to an important message in the Bible. This also does not build teamwork at all! It just leaves a bunch of people with a ton of nastiness all over their faces! This could also violate people of opposite genders... I totally disapprove this game.

Stupid

Cannot believe all the negative comments! My husband and I run a youth group based where a lot of the kids go to a Christian school. We do a devotion with them when we first start the night but then play games just for the fun of it! Sometimes kids need to know that Christianity's important but we can also have some simple fun as well! We've played these kinds of games and the kids love them.

Cosie, I wonder if some of the kids just sit through the devotion to get to the game? Also, why not play a game that has to do with the bible or God? Those games are just as fun. Also, I wonder how long is the devotion in comparison to the game? Is the game the main focus? Or is God the main focus? Everything we do should reflect God. I don't see how this game builds stronger relationships or disciples.

I think this game would be awesome, my youthgroup is on the cusp of becoming sterile - kids are to afraid to play half the games 'in case they hurt themselves' or 'i don't like touching other people' or 'i don't want to get dirty'. Back when i was in youthgroup, those things were not an issue and youthgroup was something i could bring all my mates (who used to be rough footballer types) along to without feeling like I'm taking them to a daycare centre. It was that youthgroup that seen two of them saved to this day - and if it was the type of youthgroup that used to only play 'god focused, no contact' games, they wouldn't of been interested in the first place. God works in people in ways that no one can know - and i belive allowing barriers to go up between your youth is very much a negative thing.

Beazo, I wonder, have you talked to your youth? If your kids don't want to play these types of games,you shouldn't force them to do so. A lot of kids, not just your youth group, actually want something that is God focused. They want to be able to bring their friends and show them that Christians are in fact different from non-Christians. A lot of these kids want to be challenged in their walk with God, they want to go out and service projects outside of the church, they want a time of worship. Jesus is suppose to be our foundation of the Youth Group. Jesus never played games with kids, He taught them about godly things. I'm not saying cut out games entirely, but maybe have more of a God Focused game. I say this as someone who has talked to many youth. They don't want to speak up in case someone disagrees, or maybe they have and their ignored. Having kids get hurt at youth is never a good thing, by the way.

Wow, there seem to be a few false dichotomies getting around here. We seem to be able to have either God stuff or messy stuff.

Here's an idea: why can't we do both? When did God ever say that discipleship precluded vegemite faces?

Or why can't this game have a spiritual application? I mean, it could easily turn into a discussion of the time Jesus healed a blind man by rubbing a muddy spitball in his eyes. Or it could lead to a discussion about how we don't diminish love or faith by sharing them with one another.

I get the problem with the intimacy of this game. Any leader who knows their youth will know whether or not they'll get away with it. In our youth group kids always have the option of sitting out if they don't want to take part.

That said, thanks for the idea. I'm using this one tomorrow!

hey bible basher's, it's just a game.....

Hi Aussies Iam helping with our youth group gladfor this site's resources...maybe you could tone this down for those concerned by using barefeet or elbows or the back of your knee or something... an for us in Canada peanut butter?

oh my gosh, if i were a kid i'd probably never go to some of your youth groups for fear of dying of boredom! It's just a game, some games can be used to teach a lesson, explain a concept, etc. But some games are just for fun and can be just for fun!

seriously, lighten up ppl!

I agree.It is just a game you negative people need to lighten up kids need to have fun and plus you can tie God into the games or can just have them for fun!I'm 13 and my parents are youth pastors and i would love this game!!

Yeah not everything needs to have a purpose. that can cause scruples in kids...let them have some fun playing a game that is fun. competition always removes the problem of not wanting to toucvh someone...

Peace

Jade, How do you know Jesus NEVER played games with kids? are you sure? I would like to suggest otherwise...the bible talks about a few years of Jesus' life. If all Jesus ever did was talk to them about God stuff, I am not so sure that they would have accepted him.

Has anyone thought that this game might already have a meaning related to the bible? When I read about the game the first thing I thought about was 'Pass It On'. It is important that our youth pass along the message of the bible, and not just a little bit. It is a goal to pass along a lot of the message, hensing the point of passing along the vegie from cheek to cheek and to pass along the most. This is simply an exercise reinforcing the message.

let us not forget that church is based on fellowship. we get too focused on bible studies and we forget to show love for one another. i think its a great thing to study the bible and learn about gods word, but our relationship with god isn't the only thing that matters, our relationship to those around us and how we treat them could encourage others. at my church we have a youth group and a night where we play games and stuff. those who only come for the games only come on that night, and those interested in building there relationship in Christ come on another night, both groups are invited to both nights, but it keeps kids from being shallow

Guys seriously. Its a game. Move on. If you dont like it or think its a crap game... just dont use it at your youth group!

If anyone is interested in using this game at your youth group, I ask you to pray about it first! I would think that only if you have a youth group full of perfect guys and girls would this game be okay to play. However, no one's perfect! Even the most well-meaning guy/girl would feel temptation! You would end up with two groups: people who feel extremely awkward and embarrassed, and people who are being tempted to going down the wrong path. I don't see how people would think this game is okay what with the mouth to mouth thing, but if you do not agree, that's okay, it's just my opinion. But I beg you to pray and see what God has to say before you throw this game on your youth!

Hey these are here for you to accept or not don't go trashing someones idea that has worked successfully for them that I do not believe is biblical. Cmon our aim is to build and love in Gods manner

As a youth worker i see many upsetting aspects of young people's lives, they are faced with many horrible things from many areas of their lives, religious and not. Activities that teach and show fun, socialisation, positive behaviour and safety, thats what they need, who cares if they get vegemite on thier face, sit on other youths laps etc. So long as the touching is appropriate it teaches youth about relationships and what is ok and what is not. Just my thoughts.

Being a Christian is about having a relationship with God. Just because it is youth group does not mean you can't play a game that isn't associated with a bible lesson. Do we want to teach our youth that everything has to have strict rules? They are already scared of these things called religion. We need to teach them that having a relationship with God allows us to live a normal, loving, and fun filled life. Theses games sound awesome. I appreciate the ideas, because I can only come up with creative ideas for so long.

eeeewwwwwwwwwwww, that is too close

this game is awesome! i can see kids having a lot of fun with this game. great idea!!!!!

This game sounds gross, and hilarious! just the kind of attention grabber I look for! :-) thanks for the brill idea!

I've done this using thick lip gloss for a Valentine's theme night at youth once and it was one of the most fun games the kids had ever played at youth. It's fantastic!

We can't get vegemite reliably here in Canada, but I used marshmallow topping Fluffy I think its called. I think you have to pick your games for your group. We have a LOT OF easily grossed out girls who didn't like this much.

For everyone conplaining about this game, I'm glad my kids aren't in your youth group.

I think that it sounds like a whole lot of crazy fun to me! Like others have said you can always find a way a teaching a lesson from any game, but it is not always necessary. God should totally be the focus of a youth group. Games are a way of bringing unity to a group....Is that not what the body of Christ should do. Joy is a great unity builder. Lighten up and have a laugh. If there is boundry issues within your group then don't use certain games or adjust them to your purposes.
There is nothing like a little grossing out and stretching your comfort zone to create laughter and fun. No one should ever be forced to do something that they don't feel comfortable doing. A youth group should be a place where encouragement and love overflows. That said you can still encourage the quiet ones to occasionally stretch themselves. It is all about relationship and knowing your group.
Thank you very much or all the games and suggestions on this site. It is a fantastic site.

Im definately using this one!! My youth group is a taste teaser for local kids to get them to our church. My youth is one hour of full on action and fun finished off with someone sharing a short 5-10 minute devotion. In the past the emphasis got to be a bit spiritual and we lost a lot of kids cause it started to get boring for them!! They now come and have fun with some full on action games or participation games depending on the speakers topic, we crank up the music and do a few songs and finish off with a short sharp message. This is our precursor/stepping stone to church!! God still moves and touches lives and some of our emerging leaders are kids that have come right through our programmes from the age of 5. 85% of the kids I work with are from non christian homes so the style of programme we run suits our demographic. Unfortunately the kids who sook the most and dont want to play messy games/participate in everything are the kids who have been in church all their lives!!

Kids these days need visual and interactive stimulation to keep them interested. Reading the bible to them doesnt cut it!! Even those who preach at my youth use audio visual presentations and interactive ideas to get the kids thinking about the message and scriptures quoted whilst actually participating in it!!

As far as this game is concerned I can think of multiple ways to tie this in with a biblical topic!! Think outside the square people or you will have a youth group of people who cannot reach their generation........

Im also a bit concerned about earlier comments that seem to assume that pointless fun is poor stewardship of our youth group time. I'm here trying to plan tomorrow night's youth group. I have 15 minutes of welcome and announcements, 45 mins of Bible Study, 45 mins of praise, worship and testimonies, and now I need a 15 minute game just for pointless fun. I'm not sure I see the problem with that?! it certainly isn't the focus of our group or even our evening.
Please stop, think and pray before you post personal criticisms. There is actually a person on the other end of each of these comments.

hahahaha funniest comments. classic christian banter. anyway simplest, best, most enjoyed game by kids! they love it!

Fun does not equal wrong.

We have done this game several times in our youth! and both our girls and guys get right into it! It is an awesome game to play! Highly recommend it!

im a little disheartened i must say, i think where is the joy? where is the Christlike sweetness? why cant youth groups get together on a night do something totally fun and then hear Gods work. Isnt that the point? to show the students that they can have good clean..or messy fun in the Lord in a Christ like environment with the fellowship with other believers? If a messy game gets the student there so that they hear Gods Word that night, so it plants the seed of His love in their Heart then i say have fun:)

I'm very dissapointed from reading all the comments.

Games are games, Not all games need to have some sort of message relating to the Bible. Cut the religious nonesense and take the icebreaking game for what it really teaches.